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Jackets honor Roebuck with win

BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets (3-6, 1-2 Region 3-AA) got their first region win Saturday as Tony Raymond chalked up 26 points and SEB knocked off the visiting Metter Tigers (1-4, 0-2) 71-46 on George Roebuck Night in Brooklet. “After our loss (Friday at Josey), we bounced back and played well,” said SEB coach John Page. “It really feels good, and I think it’s good confidence. We’ll try to string a couple of wins together, but we’ve got to continue to get better.” Raymond’s game-high point total shot up early, as he hit three of his four 3-pointers in the first quarter and his first-period total hit 11. “Once we knew we could get (Raymond) going,” Page said, “we got to the ball to him up the side. Once we did, James Scott and Chris Rogers pretty much got the shots they wanted.” Rogers scored 18 for the Jackets and grabbed seven rebounds and James Scott added 13 in the winning effort. Leading 22-14 after a quarter of play, the SEB defense clamped down, allowing only six second-quarter points. The Yellow Jackets out-rebounded the Tigers 29-15 in the contest. Metter only had one scorer reach double-digits. Southeast Bulloch returns to action Tuesday as it heads to Bryan County. The Redskins look to avenge a 63-50 loss at the hands of the Jackets earlier in the season. Tip-off for the girls is at 6 p.m. and the boys hit the court at 7:30. The Tigers take on Claxton Tuesday, also with 6 p.m. and 7:30 starts. Page is glad his Yellow Jackets are taking on a non-region foe in Bryan County as he feels it will prepare his team for the meat of the Region 3-AA schedule. “It gives us a chance,” said Page, “to play a non-region team and get better before we play another region game.”

Lady Tigers 37, Lady Yellow Jackets 34 Tess Fordham’s foul shot with 10.4 seconds to go put the Metter Lady Tigers (3-2, 1-1 Region 3-AA) up for good against the hosting Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets Saturday night in Brooklet as SEB dropped a close one, 37-34. On the ensuing SEB possession, Metter’s Nicole Thomas stole a pass and laid it in with 5.4 seconds to go to put the Tigers up by three, and Yellow Jacket Kacey Jones missed a 3-pointer as time ran out to give Metter its first region win amidst a slew of injuries. “We’ve really got five girls hurt right now,” said Tiger coach Dwayne Davis, “but two of them were able to play tonight. It was big, because last night (against Screven County) we didn’t have a good performance — we were 9-for-50 from the floor. “Overall, it’s a good win for us. We need it after a two-game losing streak to get us back on track.” Fordham led the Tigers with 11 points and nine rebounds, with five of her 11 coming in the fourth quarter. In the defensive battle, Southeast Bulloch (3-6, 1-2) led for most of the game. Metter brought the score within two in the third quarter on a Kayone Donaldson 3-pointer, but trailed throughout until a Dinitra Boykin foul shot tied it up with 3:48 to go in the game. A pair of Fordham free throws put Metter on top, and her final foul shot sealed the deal. Jones led the SEB defense with 14 rebounds, four blocked shots and four steals, and Ashley Clifton put up 11 points to lead the Jacket offense. “(Clifton) came up big for us,” said SEB coach Mark Smith. “We’ve been talking about how we’ve got to get better post play, and she helped us stay in a tight game. It’s the little things that are getting us beat right now. In a tight game like that, we can’t afford to make mistakes.”

Roebuck honored in new SEB gym “Records are good and many folks feel that is the most important part of sports. I don’t. Oh yeah, I like winning. But coaching to me is taking a youngster, no matter how big or small, no matter the level of talent, and making him give the best he can give. Some of my best players were little guys with that great big heart.” These are the words of the legendary coach George Roebuck — a member of the Halls of Fame at Southeast Bulloch, Statesboro High and Brewton Parker College — who founded the SEB basketball program among his many other accomplishments. The coach was in attendance for the Yellow Jacket games against Metter, and his picture was unveiled in a pre-game ceremony bearing the aforementioned quote. The picture will hang on the walls of the new SEB basketball facility. Many fans, former players and students, and a number of life-long friends were present at the event, and the gym was filled with signs made by SEB students that honored the coach and teacher.

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